Shipping case



Nov. 28, 1950 A. B. BRENNER SHIPPING CASE INVENTOR.

Filed June 11, 1948 HRTHK J R B. BRENNER,

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1950 A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIPPING CASE ArthurB. Brenner, Newark, N. J.

Application June .11, 1948, Serial No. 32,284

. A further object is to provide a shipping case of this kind with handle portions for readily lifting and carrying the case.

Yet another object is to provide the case with means for preventing it from becoming warped or deformed.

A still further object is to produce a shipping case of this kind that provides a maximum display of its contents without removing the same from the case. 4

Still another object is to provide simple and cheap means for fastening the closure member to the case.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description thereof to follow taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a shipping case embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the closure member removed partially and being partially broken away.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on the p ane of the line 33 of Figure 2 and inverted for clarity.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the rear of the case taken on a line through the slot in the rear wall.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the closure member of the case.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the case with the closure member removed and the case supported for displaying its contents.

As shown in the drawing, the improved case is preferably rectangular in shape and comprises a main box-like section I and a removable auxiliary section 2 slidably connected to the main section. The sections are preferably formed of wood. The main section consists of a bottom wall 3, side walls 4, 4 and a rear wall 5, said walls being formed integrally with each other. The front and top of the main section are open. Just below their top edges and on their inner surfaces,

2 Claims. (o1. 217-62) these walls are formed with a continuousgroove 6. The front end edges of the side walls are formed with oppositely disposed dove-tail notches I, 1.

The removable section 2 is also formed of wood and serves as a closure member for the main section I. Section 2 comprises a rectangular-shaped plate-like member 8 of a size equal to the size of the opening in the top of the main section for closing said top opening. Depending from one end of the member 8, the front end as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, is another plate-like member '9', of a size equal to the size of the opening in the front of the main section for closing said front opening. The members 8 and 9 are fastened together by glue or in any other suitable manner. The side edges In of the membe'r 8 are adapted to slide in the groove 6 in order to guide themember to closing position in the top of the main section. A tongue member H on the rear end of the plate member 8 extends through and projects beyond a slot l'2 in the grooved portion of the rear wall 5. The front plate 9 is formed with opposed. dove-tail lugs [3, IS on its side end edges. When the top plate 8 is in fully closed position, the front plate 9 closes the opening in the front of the main section and has its dove-tail lugs seated in the dovetail notches 1, 1 in the front ends of the side walls as shown in Figure 1 thereby interlocking said front plate and side walls so as to prevent spreading apart of said side walls.

When the section 2 is in closed. or operative position as shown in Figure 1, the sections l and 2 are fastened together by a removable pin I4 extending through a hole I5 in the outer end of the tongue I l and. projecting above and below the slot I2 in the rear wall 5. The pin may be formed with an enlarged end 96 to prevent its falling through the hole. A padlock or seal may be used in place of the pin if desired.

The front end of the top plate 3 is formed with a forwardly projecting lug I1 forming a handle for moving the section 2. This handle may be provided with a finger groove l8 on its under surface.

A cleat is may be provided at the top edge of the front end of the plate 8 in order to close the gap in the front of the main section above the top plate at this point when the closure member is in closing position.

When the section 2 is in closing or operative position, the top and front of the main section I are completely closed as shown in Figure 1 and the contents of the case is protected. The case can easily be opened by removing the pin 14 and pulling the section 2 outwardly by means of handie [1. When it is desired to lift or otherwise manipulate the case, the members 11 and II can readily be grasped by the hands.

The contents of the case such as the fruit 20 can be displayed effectively by removing the section 2 and placing the main section I against a support 2| in tilted fashion with its open end uppermost and its closed end downwardly as shown in Figure 6. In this manner, a large area of the contents of the case may be seen.

The dove-tail connection between the front plate 9 and side walls 4 prevents said walls from becoming separated or warped.

The interior of the case is easily cleaned and the case can be replaced and shipped over and over again without damage to the case or contents.

If desired, longitudinal slots or air vents may be formed in the side and end walls for ventilating the contents.

Changes in details of construction might be made without departing from the principle of the invention.

- What I claim is:

, 1. A shipping case consisting of a main section including a bottom wall, a rear wall and side walls and having an open top and an open front, and an auxiliary section slidably connected to said main section including a top plate longitudinally slidably mounted on said side walls for closing the open top of the main section when in one position, a front plate depending from one end of said top plate for closing the open front of the main section when said to plate is in said position, the front edges of said side walls being formed with dove-tail notches, and dove-tail lugs on the side edges of said depending front plate to slide into and out of said notches upon movement of said auxiliary section in opposite directions, respectively, and to seat in said notches for interlocking said front plate and said side walls together when said top plate and said front plate are in said positions for preventing spreading apart of said side walls.

2. A shipping case as defined in claim 1 wherein said rear wall has a slot adjacent its upper edge, and the other end of said top plate has a tongue to project through the slot and extend rearwardly of said rear wall when said top plate is in said position, said tongue having a hole in its projecting portion, and a fastening element to removably fit in said hole and abut the outer side of said rear wall to hold said auxiliary section against sliding.

- ARTHUR B. BRENNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 363,077 Merritt May 17, 1887 958,991 Burton May 24, 191

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 41,693 Switzerland Aug. 19, 1907 38,189 Sweden Aug. 17, 1912 20,017 Denmark Mar. 29, 1915 

